WorldWild Podcast
Episode 18 22nd August 2019
Nature the Great Library with John Akeroyd
John Akeroyd, esteemed botanist, is passionate about plants and critical of mainstream conservation's seeming obsession with 'tidiness'. After talking to a Romanian friend about this issue, he got the response; 'We don't really have a word for tidiness in Romania'. It is his strong belief that humans need to be a part of conservation; as we are a part of the ecosystem as a whole.
Listen in to a conversation about a myriad of wild things including; foraging culture in Greece, 'relic plants' in Ireland, the interplay between phytonutrients and flavours, the importance of crop wild relatives in food security, and the beauty of botany...
'It's a story of people and plants, as part of the bigger relationship between people and landscapes'
- John Akeroyd, episode 18
About John Akeroyd
John Akeroyd is the world's expert on many plants including those in the dock and goosefoot families. His most recent work has been in the wilds of Romania, where he works with Fundatia ADEPT in conjunction with the Prince of Wales Foundation in its groundbreaking work in rural livelihoods. He began his academic journey at the University of St Andrews, later gaining his PhD at the University of Cambridge. He worked on the Flora Europaea as well as serving as vice-president of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. He is the co-founder of Plant Talk magazine, in association with the Eden Project, and was made a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1982.
Further reading
> Find more from Fundatia ADEPT the Anglo-Romanian charity.
> Find more at The Henry Williamson Society Journal.
> See more at Plant Talk conservation magazine which John co-founded.
About the show
We offer a series of conversations to tap into the wildness within ourselves and to uncover what is possible when we do. It is our hope that through the WorldWild Podcast we can contribute to the revitalisation of wild food culture and conversation around the world.
Through people who know their landscapes intimately, we gather the threads to weave a rich tapestry. Piece by piece the vision of a wilder world comes into view. The wild embrace of nature welcomes us back and offers us a seat at the table. A feast, no less!
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